Insect olfactory receptor and odorant-binding protein (OR/OBP)

Insect olfactory receptors (ORs) and odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are the primary molecular components of the insect peripheral chemosensory system, serving as critical targets for pest and vector control. Unlike vertebrate olfactory receptors, which are G protein-coupled receptors, insect ORs are unique heteromeric ligand-gated ion channels composed of a variable odor-specific subunit and a highly conserved co-receptor known as Orco [1, 18]. OBPs are small, soluble proteins found in the sensillum lymph that bind and transport hydrophobic odorants and pheromones to the ORs, often acting as selectivity filters or protectors against enzymatic degradation [4, 10]. These proteins are essential for behaviors such as host-seeking in disease vectors (e.g., mosquitoes transmitting malaria and Zika) and mate finding in agricultural pests [9, 14, 17]. They are the primary targets for widely used repellents like DEET and are the focus of research into novel Orco-targeting modulators like VUAA1 [2, 20]. Additionally, OBPs have been implicated in insecticide resistance by sequestering toxic compounds, which poses a significant challenge for sustainable pest management [11, 25].

Other names

Insect odorant receptorInsect olfactory receptorOdorant-binding proteinPheromone-binding proteinOrcoChemosensory proteinGeneral odorant-binding protein

Agonism, antagonism, and allosteric modulation of heteromeric ligand-gated ion channels (ORs) and competitive binding or transport by soluble proteins (OBPs) to disrupt or overload olfactory signaling.